MUNSTER scrum half, Duncan Williams joined PostSport this week to discuss the good start to the season, the new training centre and tonight’s opponents, Cardiff. Enjoy.
Two wins in preseason and one more last weekend, all good?
“Yes, we had two good wins in the preseason games and a another at the weekend, so it has been so far so far at the moment anyway.
There was a good defensive effort at the weekend?
Yes, it was good alright. It may seem that we were a little stretched, but we were all perfectly calm out there, we knew what we were doing and we were hunting them to the touchline and making our tackles. We made them commit men to the ruck and then we re-set off of that and made sure we had line speed. It might not have looked too comfortable, but we all looked comfortable out there.
Have you noticed anything quicker on your own ball?
I suppose we really didn’t have much ball there at the weekend. Anytime we do get a bit of ball in the attacking half it is much quicker and it’s my job to get in there and move it as quickly as possible. We seem to be doing some good stuff when we do get that quick ball.
There seemed to be a more clinical edge in the opponent’s 22 also.
Yes, that has been a theme of our preseason really. Even in the friendlies, when we get into the opposition 22, we seem to come away with points. I think a lot of credit has to go to the coaches on that. Hopefully we will get more of the same going forward.
The link up with James Cronin for his try, is that something that is pre-planned?
In fairness to James, I could hear him calling for it. He is some man from 5 metres out to score a try and he knows where that try line is. He would usually drag three or four lads over with him too, so once you hear him shouting for the ball, I know straight away to give it to him.
Are you happy with preseason personally, having started the first competitive game?
Yes, going to Waterford for the Zebre game, was good preparation for Scarlets really. The weather was the same and every week we have gotten that bit better. So that is a positive, but it is early days yet. We are just looking to build on that.
Are the reviews different from last season?
We are all in one centre now, so that helps. We all come in on Monday and do a review. Where as previously we might have had to have done that over Skype or iChat, or go to Mitchelstown in the afternoon. Now we are all just in the one room, you get that face to face contact and you get that time to thrash things out and it has been good.
Has that (one centre) helped?
It has. You get that extra facetime with other players day to day and it is the same with the coaches. It is a big benefit for us and it will be this season.
More of the same from Cardiff this weekend? (similar to Scarlets)
They will be alright. I was watching their game in the airport before we came homw the other night. They were very impressive. They have a very good backrows, two very good centres. They signed Steve Shingler from the Scarlets, he is an impressuve 10, so we expect nothing different from them. They are a good team and they will bring it to us at the weekend.
And a certain Nick Williams?
We all know Nick very well. He was here for a while. He went to Zebre and then back to Ulster. It is always a good clash against him, so we are looking forward to seeing him back in Cork.
Great to see Tyler back last week? – (question asked before Tyler was injured)
It is great to see the poor fella back. He has had a rough two years. People wondered would he ever play again. He played a bit last year and anytime he did, he was very good in fairness to him. When he comes in, he is a very calming influence and from point of view, he is a pleasure to play with.
Different than playing with Ian Keatley?
I suppose everyone has their own differences. For me, all I need is that voice outside me and I am happy out. Both of them provide me with that, so we are good on that.
What is the mood like in the camp?
Well, I suppose everywhere is different when you are winning, compared to losing. We have had three good wins and we are building a bit of momentum. The sun is shining, we are together everyday, what more could you ask for?
Happy with the new look training centre?
We’ve had a review, massages and physio in there so far. It is very nice in fairness. We all have our individual lockers and changing space, so it is different from before where I had to wrestle with Duncan Casey and Mike Sherry for a space and they normally ended up putting me in the bath. So, it has been pretty good so far.
